Young man dies after nightclub stabbing

Police are asking witnesses to come forward after a young man was stabbed on the dancefloor of a popular nightclub

November 17th, 2012 1:51 pm| by admin

A 21-year-old man was killed at Bakken, a popular nightclub in Copenhagen’s trendy meatpacking district Kødbyen, last night.

The man was reportedly stabbed in the chest a number of times on the dancefloor, after which he was rushed to Rigshospitalet, where he died of his wounds.

Police say that no-one has so far been arrested in connection with the death, and they are asking for any potential witnesses to come forward.

“It’s a popular place for young people especially,” Robert Jensen, the police’s chief investigator, told Politiken newspaper. “But there were so many people there that no-one really noticed the stabbing.”

The identity of the young man has not been released, but his family have been informed by police.

The nightclub released a statement on Facebook in which it expressed its sympathy to the young man’s family and friends.

“Early on Saturday morning, a 21-year-old man lost his life,” the spokesperson wrote. “We are grieving and in shock.”

While fatalaties caused by violence are rare at Danish nightclubs, the incident is likely to make clubs and bars revise their security arrangements.

“When a young man gets killed, it definitely shows we need to be better at checking who comes into our clubs,” said Sven Houlberg, manager of the Nørrebro nightclub Rust, where, in 2005, a man was shot and killed by one of the club's bouncers.

Houlberg added that the stabbing was especially shocking because of where it took place.

“Bakken is not a violent nightclub, it has a mellow vibe. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family as well as the staff at the nightclub.”

Some members of the nightclub industry have arranged a meeting on Monday to make a joint show of support for the family of the victim and demonstrate against the carrying of weapons by their patrons.

“The industry needs to stand together to show that we do not accept violence and weapons at our clubs,” Mija Bjung of Stengade nightclub wrote in the event’s invitation. “Music and partying should not be a catalyst for violence and murder.”

Witnesses who were at the club at around 4:40 this morning have been asked to contact the police by calling 114.